Catalog 2012-13
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2012/09/28 15:20 1/82 PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS 2012-13 Course Catalog Archive PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS Objectives, Pedagogy and Curriculum Introduction Engineering education at Olin is in the liberal arts tradition, with a strong emphasis on the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Entrepreneurship. Olin is committed to preparing graduates who recognize the complexity of the world, who appreciate the relationship of their work to society, and who are dedicated to creative enterprises for the good of humankind. Olin College endeavors to provide its education at little cost to the student. Olin College strives to foster in students: • a deep appreciation and comprehension of the principles of engineering analysis and design; • a broad knowledge of social and humanistic contexts; • the ability to identify opportunities, articulate a vision, and see it to fruition; and • dedication to intellectual vitality, community involvement and lifelong personal growth. Objectives Olin’s educational program helps students become individuals who: 1. Can make a positive difference within their profession and their community. 2. Demonstrate technical competence and creative problem-solving skills that foster success in a variety of postgraduate environments, including professional practice and graduate school. 3. Are prepared for and capable of appropriate response to social, technical and global changes. We hope that, after graduation, our students will increasingly demonstrate achievement of these objectives as follows: 1. They will demonstrate the ability to recognize opportunity and to take initiative. They will be able to communicate effectively and to collaborate well with others. They will understand the broad social, economic and ethical implications of their work, and will be cognizant of their professional responsibilities. 2. They will have a solid grounding in fundamental principles of science and engineering and the ability to apply this knowledge to the design, analysis, and diagnosis of engineering systems. They Olin College of Engineering // 2012-13 Course Catalog - http://wikis.olin.edu/coursecatalog/ Last update: 2012/09/28 academic_year_2012-13_archive http://wikis.olin.edu/coursecatalog/doku.php?id=academic_year_2012-13_archive 15:15 will be able to develop creative design solutions that are responsive to technical, social, economic and other realistic considerations. 3. They will demonstrate the results of a broad education that spans math, science, engineering, the arts, humanities, social sciences, and entrepreneurship. They will build on this foundation throughout their careers by engaging in independent learning in order to identify and respond to emerging technical and social developments. Pedagogy Olin College’s educational perspective provides a distinctive student experience designed to foster student engagement and development. Some of the key features of the Olin College experience are described in the following paragraphs. Hands-On Learning Olin has a strong commitment to incorporating hands-on educational experiences through lab and project work in many courses. From the outset of the curriculum, students build technical knowledge and develop practical skills by analyzing, designing, or fabricating engineering systems. First year mathematics, science and engineering classes provide hands-on projects involving the modeling, simulation, and analysis of engineering systems. Science courses offer opportunities for experimental design and the use of modern instrumentation and testing techniques. The design stream offers opportunities for students to design, prototype, and test solutions to authentic problems. Open-Ended Project-Based Learning Throughout the curriculum, Olin students gradually build competency in solving open-ended problems. Projects are found in all four years of the curriculum, and project experiences gradually increase in scale, complexity, and realism as students develop their knowledge and skills. In open ended projects, student teams identify and define problems, assess opportunities, apply technical knowledge, demonstrate understanding of contextual factors, muster appropriate resources to solve problems, and apply skills such as teamwork, communication, and idea generation. Olin’s open ended project emphasis culminates in an ambitious two-semester engineering capstone project that engages student teams in significant design problems with realistic constraints for an external partner. Multidisciplinary Learning Olin experiences are designed to build connections amongst fundamental science, mathematics, and http://wikis.olin.edu/coursecatalog/ Printed on 2012/09/28 15:20 2012/09/28 15:20 3/82 PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS engineering; amongst different fields of engineering; amongst the arts, humanities and social sciences and technical disciplines; and amongst business, entrepreneurship, and technology. As a result, the Olin curriculum is conceived and taught in a highly interdisciplinary way. In the first year, each course in the Olin Introductory Experience (OIE) is designed to take advantage of the synergies that exist among mathematics, science, and engineering topics, including coordinated opportunities for students to apply fundamental mathematics and science to real engineering problems that further elucidate important linkages among disciplinary topics. In addition to the OIE, Olin builds multidisciplinary connections through tightly coupled, faculty team taught courses such as the Paul Revere: Tough as Nails course block that links history of technology with materials science. Many other courses feature teaching or visits from faculty members who share different perspectives and thereby help students understand the broader context and implications of their work. Competency Assessment In addition to course-based graduation requirements, Olin develops and assesses student growth in a number of overarching competency areas. Through Olin’s competency learning and assessment system, students demonstrate skill in essential areas such as communication, qualitative understanding and quantitative analysis, teamwork, contextual thinking, opportunity assessment, diagnosis, design, and life-long learning. Feedback Olin College fosters a culture of continual feedback and improvement. Olin’s curriculum, courses, and extra-curricular activities are shaped by student input and feedback. Faculty solicit student feedback and routinely adjust course direction and areas of emphasis to better address student educational needs. Students are expected to be active learners and participants in the process of continual improvement. Individualized and Student-Designed Options Olin students may design or customize many aspects of their educational experience. Many Olin courses include student-designed components such as projects, self-study modules, and selection of emphasis areas. More substantial student-designed and student-driven learning may be found in the following activities: Self-Study All students are required to complete four credits of approved coursework in which each student works independently to select and study an area of interest. It is an opportunity to develop the skills and attitudes of life-long learning, a competency Olin considers vital for engineers working in an environment of rapidly-changing technology. Olin College of Engineering // 2012-13 Course Catalog - http://wikis.olin.edu/coursecatalog/ Last update: 2012/09/28 academic_year_2012-13_archive http://wikis.olin.edu/coursecatalog/doku.php?id=academic_year_2012-13_archive 15:15 Concentrations and Capstones All students design a concentration in an area of interest within the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences or Entrepreneurship with an opportunity to develop more depth through additional coursework or a capstone. Cross-Registration Most students choose to complete some degree requirements at Olin’s neighboring institutions. Cross-registration agreements are in place at Babson, Brandeis and Wellesley enabling Olin students to benefit from other institutions’ expertise in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and business topics. Self-Designed Engineering (E) Degree Concentrations Besides designated concentrations, the Engineering (E) degree offers students the opportunity to design their own concentrations, subject to review and approval by the Engineering Program Group. Away Experience The Olin curriculum is designed so that students who wish to spend a semester away from the college can do so. The away experience may take several forms including experience abroad or at another U.S. institution in a new cultural setting. The away experience can occur during a semester or a combination of a semester and summer. Research Some students choose to enhance their educational experience through participation in research activities. Olin offers many opportunities for faculty-directed undergraduate research, both during the academic year and during the summer. Students may receive either academic credit or pay for a research activity. Students are encouraged to become involved in research early in their undergraduate career, and students may participate in research as early as their first year. Independent Study In independent study activities, students work with faculty members to design and implement a learning and assessment plan for the study of topics not covered by listed Olin courses. Passionate Pursuits Students are encouraged to undertake non-degree credit activities in the form of Passionate Pursuits. These programs seek